Modern Public Safety Summit

Marvin Haiman is an assistant professor and the executive director of public safety and justice at the University of Virginia. He is also a visiting fellow and research scholar with Rutgers University. Haiman served as the chief of staff for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., between 2021 and 2024. In this capacity, Haiman oversaw daily operations of the Executive Office of the Chief of Police and was responsible for broad agency management and implementing strategic agency objectives. 

Haiman was responsible for several organizational units, including the Office of Communications, Office of General Counsel, Office of Wellness and the Professional Development Bureau. He served as the executive director of the Professional Development Bureau between 2017 and 2021, leading the Recruiting Division, Metropolitan Police Academy Division, Human Resource Management Division, Disciplinary Review Division, Testing and Assessment Division, Equal Employment Opportunity Division, Office of Communications and the Strategic Engagement Office (Volunteer Services). 

Prior to being named executive director, Haiman served in a variety of capacities between 2015 and 2017, including developing the agency’s Office of Volunteer Coordination, serving as chief of staff for the Technical Services Division tasked with a broad range of IT operations, and chief of staff for the Strategic Services Bureau supporting and leading the administration of police recruitment, training, policy and volunteer service matters for the department. 

Prior to returning to the Metropolitan Police Department, Haiman served as director for the Homeland Security Advisory Council for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he established several key task forces for the secretary (e.g., Foreign Fighters, Integrity and Use of Force). Prior to his federal service, Haiman led the Recruiting Division for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., among various other positions. Haiman was responsible for restructuring the sworn hiring process, decreasing the amount of time it took to process candidates while increasing the quality of those officers hired. 

Haiman graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a master’s degree in management through the Police Executive Leadership Program. He earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa and received designation as a Certified Public Management Program through George Washington University, as well as certification in Strategic Project Management. Haiman is also a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Executive Leadership Program. He received recognition by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2020 as a 40 under 40 recipient and the prestigious Gary P. Hayes Award by the Police Executive Research Forum. Haiman graduated from the Metropolitan Police Academy and continues his police service as a reserve police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department. Haiman resides with his family in Washington, D.C.

Harold Medina, a native of Taos, New Mexico, has dedicated over 27 years to law enforcement, rising through the ranks to become Chief of Police for the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). A first-generation college graduate, Medina earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and criminology from the University of New Mexico and later completed the Police School of Staff and Command at Northwestern University.

Medina began his career with APD in 1995, serving as a patrol officer for nine years before advancing to leadership roles. His early initiatives included the Party Patrol program, which significantly reduced illegal alcohol sales to minors and earned statewide recognition, including multiple Hero Awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. As a Lieutenant and Commander, Medina championed community-oriented policing strategies that led to double-digit reductions in property crimes and strengthened partnerships with local schools, businesses, and community organizations. Chief Medina is committed to transparency, community partnerships, and innovative strategies that build trust.

After retiring as a Commander in 2014, Medina served as Chief of Police for the Pueblo of Laguna, gaining valuable experience in cross-cultural policing. He returned to APD in 2017 as Deputy Chief of the Field Services Bureau and was appointed Interim Chief in 2020. In March 2021, he was confirmed as Chief of Police by unanimous City Council Vote. 

As Chief, Medina has led transformative reforms, including successfully closing the Department of Justice consent decree and implementing constitutional policing practices. Under his leadership, Albuquerque achieved historic reductions in crime rates and increased homicide clearance rates, restoring public trust and accountability to foster lasting change. His tenure has been marked by a commitment to transparency, community engagement, and innovative crime fighting strategies that emphasize collaboration.  

Prior to retirement, Medina served as President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, where he advocated for national best practices in policing and collaborated with law enforcement leaders across the country. His career reflects a steadfast dedication to building safer communities through partnership, integrity, and progressive leadership.

Key Accomplishments

• Successfully closed the Department of Justice consent decree.
• Achieved historic reductions in crime rates across Albuquerque.
• Increased homicide clearance rates to record levels.
• Served as President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
• Implemented constitutional policing and community engagement reforms.

Robert J. Contee III most recently served as the assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Office of Partner Engagement (OPE). As OPE’s leader, Mr. Contee managed the FBI’s efforts to build and strengthen relationships and information sharing with law enforcement partners nationwide — efforts critical to protecting the American people. He engaged with executives from more than 25 national and international law enforcement associations, U.S. fusion centers, and federal, state, local, and tribal partners across the country.

Prior to his role with the FBI, Mr. Contee served as chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of Washington, D.C., the sixth-largest municipal police department in the country, leading over 4,000 sworn members and professional staff.

Mr. Contee began his law enforcement career in 1989 as a police cadet with the Metropolitan Police Department. Over more than three decades, he rose through every rank in the department, serving in a wide range of operational and executive leadership roles. From 2004 to 2018, he led the Violent Crimes Branch as captain, commanded multiple patrol districts and the Special Operations Division, and later served as assistant chief of the Professional Development Bureau, Patrol Services South, and the Investigative Services Bureau. In December 2020, he was appointed chief of police.

Mr. Contee is a highly decorated law enforcement executive. Among numerous honors, he received the 2022 Congressional Gold Medal, the 2022 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the 2021 Law Enforcement Leader of the Year Award from the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation.

Mr. Contee earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies with a concentration in Police Science from The George Washington University and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Safety degree at the University of Virginia. He also completed the Management College at the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration and the Senior Management Institute for Police at the Police Executive Research Forum.

Dr. Tracie L. Keesee is a retired 25-year veteran of the Denver Police Department and former Deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department. Dr. Keesee works to improve equity within law enforcement agencies and the vulnerable communities they serve. To do this, she works closely with communities to ensure their voices are centered in the co-production and redesigning of public safety systems.  She also uses data-driven and evidence-based interventions to help law enforcement agencies receive the resources needed to create more equitable outcomes and reduce harm.

Dr. Keesee served as Project Director of the Department of Justice-funded National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice Initiative and is the Co-Founder of the Center for Policing Equity (CPE). This research center provides decision-makers with data, stories, and relationships to facilitate bold, innovative, and lasting change. Dr. Keesee took a sabbatical from CPE in 2016 to serve the New York Police Department in several roles; first, as the Deputy Commissioner of Training for Commissioner William J. Bratton, directing the implementation of transformative initiatives, including restructuring the recruitment curriculum.

Subsequently, she served as the first-ever Deputy Commissioner of Equity and Inclusion for Commissioner O'Neill, where she was responsible for the overall organizational development and implementation of NYPD's Equity and Inclusion strategic framework. During this time, she also advised the Police Commissioner on implementing accountability systems that monitor training, recruitment, employee opportunities, and complaints to help increase the organization's ability to attract and retain an inclusive and diverse workforce.  Dr. Keesee returned to CPE in 2018 as the president until accepting a full-time associate professor position with the University of Virginia School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

In 2021, Dr. Keesee was appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council President to serve as a member of an expert mechanism tasked with advancing racial justice and equity for Africans and people of African descent in the context of law enforcement around the world.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Metropolitan State College-Denver, academic certifications in Public Policy and Public Administration and a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Colorado at Denver, a Ph.D. in Intercultural Communications from the University of Denver, and a Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University. Dr. Keesee is also a graduate of the 203rd Session of the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia. She has published numerous articles across various collected anthologies and peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Prior to joining the University of Virginia, Kristen Mahoney was the Director of Policy, Government and Partner Engagement at the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab and Education Lab. In this role, she spearheaded the development and implementation of outreach and collaboration strategies to engage elected officials and government agencies at all levels. In addition, she served as the Principal Deputy Director at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, overseeing an agency responsible for over $4 billion in public safety resources. She also led the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention, where she developed and implemented strategies to reduce crime, juvenile delinquency, and serve victims. Additionally, she held key positions at the Baltimore Police Department as the Chief of Technical Services and the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. 

Mahoney's exceptional contributions to public safety were recognized with a 2016 Presidential Rank Award from President Obama for her work on the National Public Safety Partnership. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sweet Briar College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore. 

George Foresman has over three decades of leadership experience in government and business. While serving as Virginia’s homeland security secretary, Foresman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security.

He has led more than 25 national working groups, co-chaired a five year congressionally established commission on U.S. security, participated in a project to reform the U.S. national security system and overseen seven “start-ups” in government and business.

During his bipartisan career, Foresman has held positions with five Democratic and Republican Governors as well as two U.S. Presidents. In business, his experience ranges from creating strategy to reforming business and operating processes for small companies and Fortune 200 corporations.

Foresman continues to strengthen U.S. national security through on-going formal service to America as a DoD senior advisor and adjunct university professor on national security. As part of a select group, he prepares senior military and civilian leaders to transition into top leadership positions as well as guide U.S.-led multinational efforts on global and outer-space security.

Foresman is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute and the Virginia Executive Institute. He lives in Charlottesville with his wife, Gail, and their teenage children, Ryan and Shannon.

With more than 30 years in law enforcement, Mr. Berkow is an experienced police executive with extensive knowledge of both the domestic and international arenas. He is a published author and guest lecturer on a variety of topics including; community-oriented policing, integrity, and the operation of internal misconduct systems. 

In October of 2009, Mr. Berkow became President of Altegrity Security Consulting, a business unit of Altegrity that provides innovative solutions for public safety, private sector, and government agencies in the United States and around the world. In October of 2011, the company merged with Kroll Security Group, and Berkow became president of the new Kroll unit that focuses on operational, technical, management and training solutions for security and public safety.

An acknowledged expert on police investigations, discipline, and management, Mr. Berkow possesses vast experience in global policing and security solutions, having served in high-level positions in both the U.S. and international law enforcement communities. Through multiple assignments, he has been instrumental in efforts to advance the principles of rule of law in Somalia, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen. In 2006, he was a member of the Expert Group for the Implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. As President of ASC, Mr. Berkow is heavily involved in significant police re-engineering and training efforts in the US, South America, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Prior to Altegrity Security Consulting, Mr. Berkow commanded the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department in Savannah, Georgia. He accepted the position in November of 2006 with the goal of reducing crime and creating a world-class police agency in the merged city/county department.

Prior to his move to the south, Mr. Berkow served as a Deputy Chief in charge of the Professional Standards Bureau and Chief of Staff with the Los Angeles Police Department. He joined LAPD in 2003 as the first outsider appointed to a sworn staff officer position and was responsible for all anti-corruption, misconduct, and use of force investigations. Mr. Berkow was also heavily involved in counter terrorism strategies, leadership training and development.

Mr. Berkow also worked with the London Metropolitan Police Service following the July 7, 2005 bombings in London and was further retained to examine leadership training and operations within the department.

Before joining LAPD, Mr. Berkow led departments in Coachella, South Pasadena and Irvine, California. In each city, he employed a geographic model of policing to reduce crime and increase accountability within the departments.

Robin S. Engel joined the John Glenn College of Public Affairs as a senior research scientist following over 25 years in academic positions at the University of Cincinnati and the Pennsylvania State University. She received her doctorate from the School of Criminal Justice, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University of Albany, State University of New York. From 2015 to 2019, she served as vice president for safety and reform at the University of Cincinnati, where her role included executive oversight of public safety operations and successful implementation of comprehensive police reforms. Other previous positions include director of the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Center for Police Research and Policy and senior vice president at the National Policing Institute.

Engel has spent her career generating and testing evidence-based police practices, transforming police agencies through reform efforts, and reducing crime and violence in our most vulnerable communities. As an award-winning researcher, she has partnered with dozens of police agencies and communities in the U.S. and internationally, served as principal investigator for over 100 funded research studies and projects totaling over $31 million in external funding, and was previously ranked among the top academics nationally in criminal justice/criminology based on publications in prestigious peer-reviewed journals.

Engel is a senior advisor for 21st Century Policing Solutions; a four-time governor-appointed member of the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board; consultant on police training for the Ohio Attorney General; and former co-chair of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Research Advisory Committee. Her team’s work in violence reduction led to participation in meetings at the White House and 10 Downing Street and was honored with the 2008 IACP/Motorola Webber Seavey Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement, the 2009 IACP/West Award for Excellence in Criminal Investigations, and the 2008 National Criminal Justice Association’s Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University at Albany in 2017 and the 2022 O.W. Wilson Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

As a top scholar and trusted leading authority in police science, Engel continues to engage in research designed to make police-citizen encounters safer, reduce harm and promote best practices through academic-practitioner partnerships that translate and integrate research into practice

Christian Quinn completed a 24-year law enforcement career, serving as a Major with the Fairfax County (VA) Police Department. Christian led the establishment of the Cyber & Forensics Bureau to account for emergent trends related to digital investigations and operational technology. He was also responsible for numerous other key technical initiatives including body-worn cameras, unmanned aerial systems, and implementing a mobile crime lab program.

Christian earned a BA from Stonehill College and holds a Master of Forensic Sciences Degree from The George Washington University. He has completed several executive development programs and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 272.

Christian is the founder of Fulcrum Innovation, a consulting practice focused on the intersection of public sector technology and associated policy and business issues. He remains passionate about the ethical adoption of technology for the betterment of all people. Christian has been instrumental in preserving public safety’s access to technology solutions that are critically needed to keep communities safe and provide justice for victims of crime

Paul Young was sworn in as mayor of Memphis on January 1, 2024, with a commitment to creating a stronger, safer, and thriving community for all Memphians.

Paul A. Young is a Memphian, father of two, husband to Dr. Jamila Smith-Young, and son of Pastor Dianne Young and the late Bishop William Young of the Memphis Healing Center. Growing up in the Oakhaven neighborhood, Young learned at an early age that there were two Memphises – one ripe with opportunity and prosperity and another lacking resources and safe neighborhoods. Determined to bridge this divide, Young pursued a career focused on building a Memphis that works for every resident.

Young earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee, followed by a Master of Science in urban and regional planning and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Memphis.

Young has spent the last decade improving the quality of life in Memphis by advancing housing security and fostering healthy neighborhoods where families can thrive. As the President of the Downtown Memphis Commission and the former Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Memphis, Young applied a holistic approach to unifying the city through public and private partnerships and targeted investments in our future.

He believes moving the city forward requires strategic investments in public safety, infrastructure, and the potential of our greatest asset – our people.

Jeffrey D. Blume is a data scientist and biostatistician whose work spans statistical theory, biomedical research, and the development of interdisciplinary data science programs. In spring 2026, he was appointed Interim Dean of the University of Virginia School of Data Science, where he supports the School’s continued growth in research, education, and partnerships while advancing its mission to practice and teach responsible data science for the common good.

Blume is internationally recognized for his contributions to statistical inference and prediction science, particularly in the evaluation of diagnostic and screening methods. He is the inventor of second-generation p-values, an improved p-value that resolves the mismatch between how classical p-values are defined and how they are routinely misinterpreted in practice. His research has advanced both theory and practice, with foundational contributions to likelihood-based inference, mediation modeling, missing data in prediction models, clinical trials analysis, false discovery rates, and ROC curve methodology. His work consistently emphasizes the foundations, interpretability, and reliability of predictive models, with a focus on improving decision-making in high-stakes biomedical settings. As Director of the PRISM Lab (“Prediction, Inference, and Scale in Data Science Models”), he leads and mentors PhD students developing methods that bridge statistical innovation and biomedical application.

His collaborative research spans a wide range of domains, including cancer diagnosis and screening, clinical trials, radiology, nephrology, functional neuroimaging, structural biology, and women’s health. He served for 17 years as invited faculty at the Radiological Society of North America’s Clinical Trials Methodology Workshop, including Co-Chair for 5 years. He has played a leading role in interdisciplinary efforts to improve risk prediction and screening strategies, particularly in lung cancer, where his recent work has shaped approaches to evaluating clinical utility and model performance for high-risk populations. His work contributed to the 2021 updates to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lung cancer screening guidelines.

Blume also specializes in the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials, with particular expertise in radiologic and cancer trials. Through his work with the American College of Radiology Imaging Network, he served as both a trialist and Deputy Director of the Biostatistics and Data Management Center, leading the statistical design and analysis of multicenter imaging trials.

In addition to his research contributions, Blume has had a sustained impact on the development of data science, biostatistics, and public health training programs. He has led the creation of multiple interdisciplinary programs, including the Master of Science in Data Science and graduate programs in Biostatistics (M.S. and Ph.D.) at Vanderbilt University, and the Master of Public Health program at Brown University. He also co-directed the Big Biomedical Data Science (BIDS) Training Program at Vanderbilt, a doctoral initiative focused on large-scale biomedical data. At the University of Virginia School of Data Science, he previously served as Quantitative Foundation Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs, where he led the School’s growth in educational programs and partnerships while shaping its academic strategy and advancing its mission of responsible data science.His work has helped shape the training of data scientists and quantitative researchers across academic and applied settings.

Blume founded Analytical Edge, a data science start-up focused on improving the design and analysis of clinical trials, while at Brown University; the company was supported by the Slater Technology Fund. He later played a founding role in the Vanderbilt Data Science Institute, where he served as Director of Graduate Education and Vice Chair of Education in Biostatistics at Vanderbilt University, and as a tenured Professor of Biostatistics with joint appointments in Biomedical Informatics and Biochemistry. He has authored approximately 130 peer-reviewed publications, which have been cited nearly 11,000 times. Blume is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His work has been recognized with the Chancellor Award for Research at Vanderbilt University and the Spinoza Chair in Medicine at the University of Amsterdam.

Alex Gates is a network scientist whose research explores how patterns of connectivity influence human behavior, decision-making, and the dynamics of complex systems, from science to art to business. His research takes a multidisciplinary approach, blending methods from computational social science, data science, and network science with sociological theory. His current focus is on the Science of Science, where he analyzes how organizational dynamics and strategic decisions influence innovation, creativity, and success.

Prior to joining the University of Virginia School of Data Science as an Assistant Professor in 2022, he was an Associate Research Scientist in Northeastern University’s Network Science Institute and the Department of Sociology. His work has been featured in top journals, including Nature, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and The Journal of Machine Learning. Gates also embraces multi-modal communication channels, including award-winning data visualizations, journal covers, interactive web-based models, and videos. Examples of his work include exploring the interdisciplinary structure of a major scientific journal and a video on the collaboration network emerging from one of the NSF's largest gender equity efforts. 

Gates holds a joint Ph.D. in Informatics (complex networks) and Cognitive Science from Indiana University, Bloomington, an M.Sc. in Complex Systems Modeling from King's College London, and a B.A. in Mathematics from Cornell University.

Dr. Christopher Rodriguez is the Assistant City Administrator for the District of Columbia. He is responsible for the cross-agency collaboration and results delivery for the Government Operations Cluster, which includes agencies like the DC Human Resources (DCHR), Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP), and Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). He works with District Government leaders at multiple levels to drive decision-making and enhance operational impact. 

Prior to his current role in the Office of the City Administrator, Dr. Rodriguez was the Director of the District’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) from 2017-2023. In that role, he served as the Homeland Security Advisor and State Coordinating Officer for the District of Columbia, and the State Administrative Agent for homeland security federal grants funding for the District and National Capital Region. During that time, Dr. Rodriguez led the COVID-19 incident response for the District, which was recognized as among the strongest in the nation. He oversaw supply procurement, hiring and training response teams, and identifying physical space needed to carry out necessary activities such as testing, vaccine disbursement, and other essential community and business-related tasks. He also led emergency response operations for the District during the January 6, 2021, insurrection. 

Dr. Rodriguez’s career in public service began when he joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. As a senior analyst in the Counterterrorism Center, he monitored terrorist groups in the Middle East and South Asia to identify and counter threats to the US and its allies by closely collaborating across federal, state, and local levels. From 2009-2011, he was deployed to the U.S. Embassy in Brussels as a key U.S. interlocutor during the Euro crisis. He has also served as Director of New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. 

Dr. Rodriguez received a BA from Williams College and an MA and PhD in political science from the University of Notre Dame. 

Emily McKinley serves as Deputy Chief of Police for the Louisville Metro Police Department (Louisville, Kentucky, United States). In her role, she oversees the Accountability and Improvement Bureau and Support Bureau. She played an integral role for the City of Louisville as a member of the team managing the Department of Justice’s Pattern or Practice Investigation and reform efforts. She was the lead negotiator for LMPD in the City of Louisville’s Consent Decree negotiation with the United States Department of Justice.

Prior to becoming Deputy Chief, she held the rank of Assistant Chief over the Accountability and Improvement Bureau. She also served as a Major over the Administrative Services Division and a Patrol Division. Her responsibilities included departmental budget planning, technology, recruitment, records management, and strategic planning. During her career, she spent nearly a decade in the Homicide Unit as a detective, sergeant, and finally as the unit Commander for 3 years. She is the only person who has served in the Homicide Unit at all ranks.

Emily is dedicated to upholding constitutional principles while forging pathways for constant improvement in public safety strategies and the enhancement of community trust. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Louisville. She is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officers Course and PERF’s Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP).

Major Abigail Martinez has more than 23 years of service with the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and currently leads the Events and Special Projects Division. She specializes in public safety, operational planning, and large-scale event management. Martinez has led safety and security planning for nationally significant events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl victory celebrations, the NFL Draft, major sporting events, and numerous community events. Her experience includes developing comprehensive security plans, managing multimillion-dollar operational budgets, coordinating complex logistics, and building partnerships among local, state, federal, and private-sector organizations. She also has extensive experience supporting game-day security operations for Kansas City's professional sports teams. Major Martinez is trained in crowd management, event planning, project management, and public safety, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and operational excellence.

William Paige is the Program Manager for the Center of Public and Justice at the University of Virginia.

William’s commitment to public service began as a civilian intern with the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. in the Court Liaison Division and Office of Volunteer Coordination, promoting the Department’s community relation initiatives. He also interned and worked in the Executive Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C. During his time as an Associate in the Office of Federal and Regional Affairs, William engaged with federal and regional stakeholders to advance the interest of the District of Columbia on a wide range of policy issues. As an Associate Director in the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments, William recruited and managed appointments within the Mayor’s cabinet and staff. His portfolio included, among others, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety & Justice and the Office of the Senior Advisor. He also advised certain Mayoral nominees through the D.C. Council confirmation process to numerous volunteer boards and commissions.

During his time at the Georgetown University Law Center, William was a research assistant focusing on federal securities litigation, a summer associate at two international law firms, served on the Executive Board of the Georgetown Black Law Student’s Association, and a student attorney in the Federal Legislation Clinic focusing on anti-hunger policy and advocacy.

William joins the Center for Public Safety & Justice from private legal practice where he focused on antitrust & competition law while maintaining an active pro bono practice. 

William graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s University with a major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Business Law. He earned his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. 

In his free time, William enjoys exercising, reading non-fiction, and traveling.

Marvin Haiman is an assistant professor and the executive director of public safety and justice at the University of Virginia. He is also a visiting fellow and research scholar with Rutgers University. Haiman served as the chief of staff for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., between 2021 and 2024. In this capacity, Haiman oversaw daily operations of the Executive Office of the Chief of Police and was responsible for broad agency management and implementing strategic agency objectives. 

Haiman was responsible for several organizational units, including the Office of Communications, Office of General Counsel, Office of Wellness and the Professional Development Bureau. He served as the executive director of the Professional Development Bureau between 2017 and 2021, leading the Recruiting Division, Metropolitan Police Academy Division, Human Resource Management Division, Disciplinary Review Division, Testing and Assessment Division, Equal Employment Opportunity Division, Office of Communications and the Strategic Engagement Office (Volunteer Services). 

Prior to being named executive director, Haiman served in a variety of capacities between 2015 and 2017, including developing the agency’s Office of Volunteer Coordination, serving as chief of staff for the Technical Services Division tasked with a broad range of IT operations, and chief of staff for the Strategic Services Bureau supporting and leading the administration of police recruitment, training, policy and volunteer service matters for the department. 

Prior to returning to the Metropolitan Police Department, Haiman served as director for the Homeland Security Advisory Council for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he established several key task forces for the secretary (e.g., Foreign Fighters, Integrity and Use of Force). Prior to his federal service, Haiman led the Recruiting Division for the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., among various other positions. Haiman was responsible for restructuring the sworn hiring process, decreasing the amount of time it took to process candidates while increasing the quality of those officers hired. 

Haiman graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a master’s degree in management through the Police Executive Leadership Program. He earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa and received designation as a Certified Public Management Program through George Washington University, as well as certification in Strategic Project Management. Haiman is also a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Executive Leadership Program. He received recognition by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2020 as a 40 under 40 recipient and the prestigious Gary P. Hayes Award by the Police Executive Research Forum. Haiman graduated from the Metropolitan Police Academy and continues his police service as a reserve police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department. Haiman resides with his family in Washington, D.C.

Prior to joining the University of Virginia, Kristen Mahoney was the Director of Policy, Government and Partner Engagement at the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab and Education Lab. In this role, she spearheaded the development and implementation of outreach and collaboration strategies to engage elected officials and government agencies at all levels. In addition, she served as the Principal Deputy Director at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, overseeing an agency responsible for over $4 billion in public safety resources. She also led the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention, where she developed and implemented strategies to reduce crime, juvenile delinquency, and serve victims. Additionally, she held key positions at the Baltimore Police Department as the Chief of Technical Services and the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. 

Mahoney's exceptional contributions to public safety were recognized with a 2016 Presidential Rank Award from President Obama for her work on the National Public Safety Partnership. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sweet Briar College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore. 

Robert J. Contee III most recently served as the assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Office of Partner Engagement (OPE). As OPE’s leader, Mr. Contee managed the FBI’s efforts to build and strengthen relationships and information sharing with law enforcement partners nationwide — efforts critical to protecting the American people. He engaged with executives from more than 25 national and international law enforcement associations, U.S. fusion centers, and federal, state, local, and tribal partners across the country.

Prior to his role with the FBI, Mr. Contee served as chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of Washington, D.C., the sixth-largest municipal police department in the country, leading over 4,000 sworn members and professional staff.

Mr. Contee began his law enforcement career in 1989 as a police cadet with the Metropolitan Police Department. Over more than three decades, he rose through every rank in the department, serving in a wide range of operational and executive leadership roles. From 2004 to 2018, he led the Violent Crimes Branch as captain, commanded multiple patrol districts and the Special Operations Division, and later served as assistant chief of the Professional Development Bureau, Patrol Services South, and the Investigative Services Bureau. In December 2020, he was appointed chief of police.

Mr. Contee is a highly decorated law enforcement executive. Among numerous honors, he received the 2022 Congressional Gold Medal, the 2022 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the 2021 Law Enforcement Leader of the Year Award from the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation.

Mr. Contee earned a Bachelor of Professional Studies with a concentration in Police Science from The George Washington University and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Safety degree at the University of Virginia. He also completed the Management College at the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration and the Senior Management Institute for Police at the Police Executive Research Forum.

Harold Medina, a native of Taos, New Mexico, has dedicated over 27 years to law enforcement, rising through the ranks to become Chief of Police for the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). A first-generation college graduate, Medina earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and criminology from the University of New Mexico and later completed the Police School of Staff and Command at Northwestern University.

Medina began his career with APD in 1995, serving as a patrol officer for nine years before advancing to leadership roles. His early initiatives included the Party Patrol program, which significantly reduced illegal alcohol sales to minors and earned statewide recognition, including multiple Hero Awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. As a Lieutenant and Commander, Medina championed community-oriented policing strategies that led to double-digit reductions in property crimes and strengthened partnerships with local schools, businesses, and community organizations. Chief Medina is committed to transparency, community partnerships, and innovative strategies that build trust.

After retiring as a Commander in 2014, Medina served as Chief of Police for the Pueblo of Laguna, gaining valuable experience in cross-cultural policing. He returned to APD in 2017 as Deputy Chief of the Field Services Bureau and was appointed Interim Chief in 2020. In March 2021, he was confirmed as Chief of Police by unanimous City Council Vote. 

As Chief, Medina has led transformative reforms, including successfully closing the Department of Justice consent decree and implementing constitutional policing practices. Under his leadership, Albuquerque achieved historic reductions in crime rates and increased homicide clearance rates, restoring public trust and accountability to foster lasting change. His tenure has been marked by a commitment to transparency, community engagement, and innovative crime fighting strategies that emphasize collaboration.  

Prior to retirement, Medina served as President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, where he advocated for national best practices in policing and collaborated with law enforcement leaders across the country. His career reflects a steadfast dedication to building safer communities through partnership, integrity, and progressive leadership.

Key Accomplishments

• Successfully closed the Department of Justice consent decree.
• Achieved historic reductions in crime rates across Albuquerque.
• Increased homicide clearance rates to record levels.
• Served as President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
• Implemented constitutional policing and community engagement reforms.

Susan Manheimer is a nationally recognized law enforcement leader with nearly four decades of service across five diverse San Francisco Bay Area agencies. Continuing her career of service, Chief Manheimer now serves as a trusted national advisor, trainer and consultant for leading institutions and innovative technology firms on a range of public safety issues, advancing smart and effective policing and partnership strategies. She is in her fourth year as a strategic site liaison with the U.S. DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance Public Safety Partnerships, delivering training and technical assistance to cities confronting violent crime and organizational and community challenges.

Manheimer is honored to have been selected as a thought leader throughout her career, serving on many local, state and national boards and associations. She is an executive fellow with the National Police Institute, the Policing Futures Institute, the UVA Center for Public Safety and Justice and the San Mateo County Juvenile Justice Commission, and she currently is on the advisory boards of the BJA Knowledge Lab, California Women Leaders in Law Enforcement and the National Secure Communities Network. Manheimer is a longtime member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, leading several committees, the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the Police Executive Research Forum, and she has served as the president of the California Police Chiefs Association.

Manheimer began her career advancing through the ranks at the San Francisco Police Department, culminating her 17 years as captain at the challenging Tenderloin Police District. She pioneered collaborative strategies to reduce pervasive crime and disorder by creating public safety net programs, including the first Homeless Outreach Teams, Community on Patrol and the Juvenile CARC Diversion Center. In 2000, she was selected to serve as the chief of police for the city of San Mateo, where she spent two decades building regional collaborative initiatives, including the Juvenile Assessment and Referral Center, the Human Trafficking Task Force and the Countywide Gang Task Force.

Retiring in 2020, Manheimer was tapped several months later to serve as the interim chief of police for the city of Oakland, providing stability during a year of unprecedented challenges, advancing necessary changes while strengthening organizational, community and policymakers' trust. Manheimer is noted for her ability to guide organizations and communities through high-stakes transitions while enhancing public safety through innovative strategies, leveraging resources and forging public and private coalitions. After a year in service at Oakland PD, she subsequently served as interim chief for the San Leandro and San Bruno police departments, stabilizing and guiding those departments through challenging periods.

As the child and proud mother of military veterans and a judicial officer, retired Chief Manheimer and her family have dedicated their professional and personal lives to public service, focused on creating a safer and more just world.